xiii, 466 pages : 25 cm

Keel and Uehlinger's unique study brings the massive Palestinian archaeological evidence of 8,500 amulets and inscriptions to bear on these questions. Vindicating the use of symbols and visual remains to investigate ancient religion, the authors employ iconographic evidence from around 1750 B.C.E. through the Persian period (c. 333 B.C.E.) to reconstruct the emergence and development of the Yahweh cult in relation to its immediate neighbors and competitors. They also fully explore whether female characteristics were present in the early Yahweh figure and how they might have evolved in Israelite religion. Keel and Uehlinger's major study marks the maturation of iconographical studies and affords an exciting glimpse into the vibrant religious life of ancient Canaan and Israel

Keel and Uehlinger's unique study brings the massive Palestinian archaeological evidence of 8,500 amulets and inscriptions to bear on these questions. Vindicating the use of symbols and visual remains to investigate ancient religion, the authors employ iconographic evidence from around 1750 B.C.E. through the Persian period (c. 333 B.C.E.) to reconstruct the emergence and development of the Yahweh cult in relation to its immediate neighbors and competitors. They also fully explore whether female characteristics were present in the early Yahweh figure and how they might have evolved in Israelite religion

Keel and Uehlinger's major study marks the maturation of iconographical studies and affords an exciting glimpse into the vibrant religious life of ancient Canaan and Israel

Material from a multi-session lecture for the annual meeting of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Deutschsprachigen Katholischen Alttestamentler und Alttestamentlerinnen, held Aug. 28, 1990, in Lucerne, Switzerland

Includes bibliographical references (p. 422-495) and index

I. Starting Point--II. Points of Departure--III. Equality of the Sexes: Middle Bronze Age IIB--IV. Egyptian Colonialism and the Prevalence of Political and Warrior Deities:Late Bronze Age--V. Hidden God, Victorious Gods, & Blessing of Fertility:Iron Age I--VI. Anthropomorphic Deities Recede & Are Replaced by Their Attribute Animals & Entities:Iron Age IIA--VII. Baal, El, Yahweh, and "His Asherah" in the Context of Egyptian Solar and Royal Imagery: Iron Age IIB --VIII. Astralization of the Heavenly Powers, the Revival of the Goddess, & Orthodox Reaction: Iron Age IIC --IX. An Era Ends:Iron Age III--X. Summary & Conclusion --Chronological Table for Palestinian/Israelite Archaeology in the Second and First Millennia

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